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Qualified orthodontist concerns about the future of orthodontics in Australia (n = 19)
| Theme | n (%) |
|---|---|
| Cost of specialist training | 1 (5.2%) |
| Not enough trainee orthodontists interested in practice ownership | 1 (5.2%) |
| Insufficient orthodontists | 3 (15.7%) |
| Operating costs of practice ownership | 2 (10.5%) |
| Lack of interest in specialty training | 1 (5.2%) |
| Low quality orthodontic care driven by marketing | 3 (15.7%) |
| Not enough orthodontists in academia | 1 (5.2%) |
| Overseas orthodontists working in Australia without proper qualification | 2 (5.2%) |
| Public not aware/appreciative of specialist orthodontic qualifications | 2 (5.2%) |
| Shortage of orthodontists in non-metropolitan areas | 2 (10.5%) |
| ASO not doing enough for members | 3 (15.7%) |
| Staffing issues | 3 (15.7%) |
Trainee orthodontist years until qualification and state of practice
| n (%) | |
|---|---|
| Approx years until qualification | |
| 1 | 8 (25) |
| 2 | 10 (31.2) |
| 3 | 14 (43.7) |
| Intended state of practice | |
| New South Wales | 9 (28.1) |
| Victoria | 7 (21.8) |
| Queensland | 9 (28.1) |
| Western Australia | 0 (0) |
| South Australia | 1 (3.1) |
| Australian Capital Territory | 2 (6.2) |
| Northern Territory | 0 (0) |
| Tasmania | 0 (0) |
| Undecided | 4 (12.5) |
Comparison of FTE units/clinician between different respondent groups
| Respondent group | Average FTE units/clinician (SD) | Comparison group | Difference in FTE units | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <5 years experience | 1.00 (0.21) | TOs | 0.00 | 1.000 |
| 6 to 10 years | 0.11 | 0.739 | ||
| 11 to 20 years | 0.13 | 0.487 | ||
| 21to 30 years | 0.21* | 0.039 | ||
| 30+ years | 0.37* | <0.001 | ||
| 6 to 10 years experience | 0.89 (0.19) | TOs | -0.11 | 0.572 |
| <5 years | -0.11 | 0.739 | ||
| 11 to 20 years | 0.01 | 1.000 | ||
| 21 to 30 years | 0.10 | 0.686 | ||
| 30+ years | 0.25* | 0.004 | ||
| 11 to 20 years experience | 0.87 (0.25) | TOs | -0.13 | 0.225 |
| <5 years | -0.13 | 0.487 | ||
| 6 to 10 years | -0.01 | 1.000 | ||
| 21 to 30 years | 0.08 | 0.611 | ||
| 30+ years | 0.23* | <0.001 | ||
| 21 to 30 years experience | 0.78 (0.26) | TOs | -0.22* | 0.003 |
| <5 years | -0.21* | 0.039 | ||
| 6 to 10 years | -0.10 | 0.686 | ||
| 11 to 20 years | -0.08 | 0.611 | ||
| 30+ years | 0.15 | 0.068 | ||
| 30+y experience | 0.63 (0.32) | TOs | -0.37* | <0.001 |
| <5 years | -0.37* | <0.001 | ||
| 6 to 10 years | -0.25* | 0.004 | ||
| 11 to 20 years | -0.23* | <0.001 | ||
| 21 to 30 years | -0.15 | 0.068 | ||
| Males | 0.83 (0.30) | Females | 0.00 | 0.998 |
| Prefer not to say | -0.10 | 0.796 | ||
| Females | 0.83 (0.22) | Males | -0.00 | 0.998 |
| Prefer not to say | -0.11 | 0.793 | ||
| Prefer not to say | 0.91 (0.14) | Males | 0.10 | 0.796 |
| Females | 0.11 | 0.793 | ||
| TOs | 1.01 (0.14) | <5 years | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| 6 to 10 years | 0.11 | 0.572 | ||
| 11 to 20 years | 0.13 | 0.225 | ||
| 21 to 30 years | 0.22* | 0.003 | ||
| 30+ years | 0.37* | <0.001 | ||
| <5 years | 0.00 | 1.00 |
Qualified orthodontist years since qualification and state of practice
| n (%) | |
|---|---|
| Years since qualification | |
| <5 | 16 (10.1) |
| 6-10 | 19 (12.0) |
| 11-20 | 40 (25.3) |
| 21-30 | 41 (25.9) |
| >30 | 42 (26.5) |
| State of practice | |
| New South Wales | 46 (29.1) |
| Victoria | 38 (24.0) |
| Queensland | 27 (17.0) |
| Western Australia | 10 (6.3) |
| South Australia | 28 (17.7) |
| Australian Capital Territory | 6 (3.7) |
| Northern Territory | 0 (0) |
| Tasmania | 3 (1.8) |
QOs and TOs concerns about the future of orthodontics in Australia
| QOs | TOs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral n (%) | Minor concern n (%) | Major concern n (%) | Neutral n (%) | Minor concern n (%) | Major concern n (%) | |
| GDPs practicing orthodontics | 13 (8.2) | 74 (46.8) | 71 (44.9) | 4 (12.5) | 15 (46.8) | 13 (40.6) |
| Too many orthodontists | 57 (36.5) | 83 (53.2) | 16 (10.2) | 14 (43.7) | 12 (37.5) | 6 (18.7) |
| Not enough orthodontists in academia | 21 (13.4) | 53 (33.9) | 82 (52.5) | 11 (34.3) | 10 (31.2) | 11 (34.3) |
| Too few patients | 62 (39.7) | 78 (50) | 16 (10.2) | 13 (40.6) | 14 (43.7) | 5 (15.6) |
| DTC appliances | 27 (17.3) | 86 (55.1) | 43 (27.5) | 10 (31.2) | 10 (31.2) | 12 (37.5) |
| Corporate orthodontic practices | 33 (21.1) | 76 (48.7) | 47 (30.1) | 5 (15.6) | 15 (46.8) | 12 (37.5) |
| Not enough orthodontists in non-metropolitan areas | 32 (20.5) | 71 (45.5) | 53 (33.9) | 15 (46.8) | 13 (40.6) | 4 (12.5) |
| Artificial intelligence | 43 (27.5) | 90 (57.6) | 23 (14.7) | 13 (40.6) | 12 (37.5) | 7 (21.8) |
Retirement intentions of QOs and TOs
| QOs | TOs | |
|---|---|---|
| From now, when do you intend to retire? | From qualification, when do you intend to retire? | |
| Time until retirement | n (% of total FTE) | n (% of total FTE) |
| <1year | 10 (4.6) | 0 (0) |
| 1 to 2 years | 9 (5.1) | 0 (0) |
| 2 to 5 years | 32 (20.2) | 0 (0) |
| 5 to 10 years | 28 (17.1) | 0 (0) |
| 10 to 20 years | 25 (18.2) | 3 (7.6) |
| 20 to 30 years | 19 (13.4) | 6 (19.1) |
| 30+years | 5 (2.9) | 11 (33.7) |